Karen Kemp, head women’s basketball coach, and her Lady Bucs are ready to start the season.ETSU has a very different look this year. Last season’s leading rebounder and scorer, forward Siarre Evans, and guard TaRonda Wiles, have graduated.

Senior guard Tarita Gordon, who would have been running the point this season along with senior guard Tara Davis, will not play this season due to knee surgery.

“There’s been a little of a role adjustment for me,” said Davis. “For three years I had consistency, but now for the most part it’s more about knowing different plays and adapting to the new girls.”

Kemp believes her team will adjust to the changes well.

“We haven’t really had to change a whole lot of things,” she said. “But we are going to look to the post for points a lot more than we would have before the injuries.”

Despite the setbacks, there has been some good news during the off-season. The Lady Bucs will have senior Latisha Belcher back. Belcher had to sit out the season last year with a knee injury.

Last time Belcher played a full season, she was the fourth leading rebounder in the Atlantic Sun conference.

“I’m really anxious to play,” said Belcher. “It’s so exciting to be back, though a lot of my teammates are calling me grandma because I’ve been here so long.”

With Evans gone, Belcher will be expected to do a lot of the rebounding for ETSU. However, she will have help at the post position.

Sophomore center Ashley Benidict and sophomore forward Tosha Austin had a big impact on the glass last season. They will also be joined by 5-11 freshman forward Destiny Mitchell.

“We’ve definitely got more depth now,” said Belcher. “We’ve got Destiny to come in and take over rebounds. Nobody can replace Siarre, but [Destiny’s] doing well.”

Even with all of the changes, Kemp has not lowered her standards.

“The goal is always to win the conference championship, win the conference tournament and then get to the NCAA tournament,” Kemp said. “We’ve had a taste and now we want to get back and make some noise this year.”

The Lady Bucs start their season Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. against Tusculum College in the ETSU/Mountain States Health Alliance Athletic Center.

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